Method for manufacturing laser scanners

Abstract

A method for manufacturing laser scanners is provided. Laser scanners are configured to drive their light-deflecting assemblies at a fixed drive frequency. By selecting for inclusion in the laser scanners only those light-deflecting assemblies that have resonant oscillation frequencies falling within a specified range, operation of the laser scanners remains within engineering tolerances even through extreme environmental changes. Moreover, the method results in laser scanner having greater unit-to-unit consistency during operation even in extreme environments.

1 . A method for manufacturing laser scanners, comprising:
 providing a plurality of light-deflecting assemblies [flippers] for use in laser scanners;   selecting from the plurality of light-deflecting assemblies only those light-deflecting assemblies that have a resonant oscillation frequency between a target minimum resonant oscillation frequency and a target maximum resonant oscillation frequency;   rejecting from the plurality of light-deflecting assemblies those light-deflecting assemblies, if any, that have a resonant oscillation frequency either (i) below a target minimum resonant oscillation frequency or (ii) above a target maximum resonant oscillation frequency;   assembling laser scanners, each laser scanner including a selected light-deflecting assembly; and   configuring each laser scanner to drive its corresponding, selected light-deflecting assembly at a target fixed drive frequency, whereby all of the assembled laser scanners employ substantially the same fixed drive frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is less than about 50 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is less than about 75 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is less than about 90 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is between 80 percent and 98 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is more than about 200 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is more than about 130 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is more than about 110 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is between about 102 percent and 125 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing laser scanners, comprising:
 selecting a plurality of light-deflecting assemblies, each light-deflecting assembly having a resonant oscillation frequency that is between a target minimum resonant oscillation frequency and a target maximum resonant oscillation frequency; and   configuring laser scanners that include the selected light-deflecting assemblies to drive the selected light-deflecting assemblies at substantially the same fixed drive frequency, wherein the fixed drive frequency is greater than the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency and less than the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is less than about 50 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is less than about 75 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is less than about 90 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target minimum resonant oscillation frequency is between 80 percent and 98 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is more than about 200 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is more than about 130 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is more than about 110 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the target maximum resonant oscillation frequency is between about 102 percent and 125 percent of the fixed drive frequency. 
     
     
         19 . A method for manufacturing laser scanners, comprising:
 selecting a plurality of light-deflecting assemblies for use in laser scanners, wherein at least some of the light-deflecting assemblies have substantially different resonant oscillation frequencies from one another; and   configuring laser scanners that include the selected light-deflecting assemblies to drive the selected light-deflecting assemblies at substantially the same fixed drive frequency, wherein the fixed drive frequency differs substantially from the respective resonant oscillation frequencies of at least one of the selected light-deflecting assemblies.